DOST Begins Public Consultations for Virology and Vaccine Institute IRR
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched a nationwide series of public consultations to finalize the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the newly enacted Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Act, starting with the Luzon leg at the Quest Hotel in Clark, Pampanga.
The consultations aim to gather inputs from various stakeholders to ensure the draft IRR effectively guides the implementation of the landmark legislation. Republic Act No. 12290, or the VIP Act, was signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on September 12, 2025, establishing the VIP as the country’s premier institute for virology research and development.
In his message, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. emphasized that the consultations affirm a “shared responsibility in building a nation guided by science and technology.” DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Leah J. Buendia, who led the event, stated that the IRR will provide the framework for carrying out the law, ensuring “coordination, accountability, and alignment with the law’s vision for a stronger, science-driven Philippines.”
Attendees at the Luzon consultation included representatives from the government, academe, private sector, research organizations, and civil societies. Their inputs are intended to help refine the draft IRR to reflect the goals and mandates of the VIP Act. Key expected outcomes include a validated draft IRR, enhanced stakeholder participation, and strengthened transparency.
The VIP institute is mandated to lead discovery programs in virology, conduct vaccine research, and develop diagnostic tools and therapeutic solutions. It will also champion evidence-based policies, build international partnerships, and train experts to expand national capacity.
The schedule for the remaining public consultations is as follows:
- Visayas Leg: January 12, 2026
- Mindanao Leg: January 20, 2026
- National Capital Region (NCR) Leg: January 27, 2026
The DOST is targeting the finalization of the IRR by February 2026, which will signal the effective start of the law’s implementation.#
